I’m always thinking about what other languages I’d like to start exploring, and, with that in mind, I was leafing through a Sanskrit grammar the other day. Does anyone here read Sanskrit? I’d be interested to hear any opinions on either the language itself, or the body of Sanskrit literature.
I’m curious about reading from the Epic poems, and perhaps Vedas. Are these the poems usually considered at the pinnacle of Ancient Indian poetry? Does the Epic narrative unfold as rapidly as Homer’s? Is the poetry particularly beautiful?
It seems to me that, as an English speaker, acquiring the vocabulary would be a much more difficult enterprise than Greek or Latin. I would be happy if somebody said I was wrong.
Everything you might imagine is there: stories of gods and demons, of kings, philosophy, erotic verse, magic, grammar, astrology, drama, medicine, fables, Hindu law, etc.
I’m curious about reading from the Epic poems, and perhaps Vedas. Are these the poems usually considered at the pinnacle of Ancient Indian poetry? Does the Epic narrative unfold as rapidly as Homer’s? Is the poetry particularly beautiful?
The epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, are just huge. I have only read small selections, the Nala story in Lanman’s reader and parts of the Bhagavad Gita. They move quite quickly.
Vedic verse can be quite beautiful, but you must know that the Sanskrit Epics are written basically in standard Sanskrit, a somewhat artificial literary language, which is much easier than the language of the Vedas. Vedic Sanskrit is older, and appears to represent a slightly different descent than the language that forms the basis of Classical Sanskrit. It retains archaic features of phonology (even a few hints of one of the IE laryngeals), morphology and syntax. Much remains puzzling, and it makes Homeric Greek seem trivial.
It seems to me that, as an English speaker, acquiring the vocabulary would be a much more difficult enterprise than Greek or Latin. I would be happy if somebody said I was wrong.
I cannot do that, I’m afraid. There’s lots of sensible compounding, so a little attention paid to word formation reduces the burden somewhat.
I had read that the development of Classical Sanskrit was influenced by an artificially created set of rules, but I didn’t realize to what extent. Is it advisable, then, to begin with the Vedic language, and then observe the development to Classical Sanskrit? or would it be better to begin with the easier language of Classical Sanskrit, and then learn the Vedic variations as they occur? or is it a question better asked once I’ve decided what I most want to read?
I’m still undecided about whether it’s something I want to pursue, but I think I’m going to work with the alphabet, at least, and maybe try to decipher a few lines to get an idea of the language. Can you make any suggestions about textbooks? My library has a copy of Whitney’s grammar—is that still acceptable? Is there a standard grammar? Also, are there any introductory books comparable to Pharr’s Homeric Greek? or something like Draper’s Iliad A, with grammatical notes designed for beginners?
Well, the best case is to answer this question then tailor your studies to match. The problem is that I know of no Sanskrit textbook that doesn’t use the classical language.
My library has a copy of Whitney’s grammar—is that still acceptable? Is there a standard grammar?
Yes, though you don’t have much choice in English, last I checked.
Also, are there any introductory books comparable to Pharr’s Homeric Greek? or something like Draper’s Iliad A, with grammatical notes designed for beginners?
There is nothing like these at all. I’ve never seen a Sanskrit textbook I really liked. I would avoid the “Teach Yourself Sanskrit” text for starting, which I find much too dense. Other than that I’m afraid I don’t have much advice to offer on beginning books. It has been a long time since I studied this formally.
I’m still interested in learning Sanskrit, but I never went any further than trying to learn the script. Maybe someday I’ll be asking questions of you.
After reading this post I happened to be wandering past the local 2nd hand book store and saw “A Higher Sanskrit Grammar” by Kale. As it was only $13Australian I told them to add it to a few other things I have to pick up tomorrow. I figure that even if I don’t have the time to learn at the moment I might get around to it in the next year or so. And for $13 who cares?
Well, the reviews sound promising, so I haven’t wasted my money! Goodness knows when I will get time to really study it more than superficially, at the moment it’s Greek, Greek & more Greek.
I don’t really know a great deal about Sanskrit, apart from the facts that it is very old, Indian and (I think) also an Indo-European language (yes?). Once you get started on this language thing it’s hard to stop collecting them!
Thanks for that link - that will give me the information I need to get started on Sanskrit. My book is good but a bit advanced for a beginner.
Also, if I thought I was having trouble reading Greek with my failing eyesight it’s nothing compared to the trouble I am going find reading Sanskrit!!
Most Sanskrit is written in Devnagri script. I wouldn’t bother learning the other scripts if your focus is Sanskrit and not another Indian language. I have a link for if you have mastered reading the Sanskrit characters: http://www.saice.org/sanskrit/ This is a very easy learning method on a beginners level, actually for children, with audio and pictures.
The largest epic in Sanskrit is the Mahabharata and the most popular is the Ramayana. They were written in different times, but both in classical Sanskrit. The Ramayana is also the oldest of the two. I did recognise some similarities in the story of the Illiad and the story of the Ramayana when I learned about Homer in school. Here’s a comparative article about the two epics: http://mcbizhang.ecwhost.com/School/LankaTroy.pdf
About poetry, Kalidasa is known as the Shakespear of India. He wrote several Sanskrit plays and poems some centuries after Christ. I don’t know much about him, though.
It seems to me that, as an English speaker, acquiring the vocabulary would be a much more difficult enterprise than Greek or Latin. > I would be happy if somebody said I was wrong. > > >
Thanks
I can not say you are wrong. Some Sanskrit words resemble to that of Latin, Greek, German and English one’s. But without knowing an Indian language you will have a harder time studying Sanskrit vocabulary. You do have an advantage of familiarity with classical languages and you don’t have to worry about false friends so much.
Here’s the website of Desiraju Hanumanta Rao, with word by word translations of the Ramayana and other great poems. http://www.geocities.com/desirajuhrao/
You do have an advantage of familiarity with classical languages and you don’t have to worry about false friends so much.
I’m wondering if everyone here knows what “false friends” refers to. I’m only familiar with it because of French, with its idiom faux amis for “false cognates” (literally “false friends”). It refers to words that are deceptively similar in appearance or pronunciation to words in a related language, like “avertissement” which, in French, means “warning,” not the apparent “advertisement.” Or, in Latin, magister, which is not usually master (dominus) but rather “teacher (=schoolmaster), helmsman”.
Just a bit of clarity for a potentially confusing expression.
Is French where this comes from originally? What’s the story behind it? I only know it because of my Berlitz pocketbook (long since disappeared) on Italian.
I’m familiar with it, because the term is commonly used in Dutch: “valse vrienden.” I looked it up on the internet first to see if it also excists in English. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_friends
I’m resurrecting this old thread because I’m also trying to find a way into Sanskrit.
I know annis couldn’t think of any books for beginners, but perhaps someone else knows of one? Is Coulson really too dense? I am probably going to get it because it is cheap, contemporary, and widely availible. Let me know if I should try something else.
It looks like it’s almost too slow moving, but I think that’s definitely an advantage at this point. Perhaps working through this and then Coulson (or someone else) is the way to go?
Oh, I know of plenty of beginning Sk. books, just none at all like Pharr.
For textkittens I am happy to recommend Jan Gonda’s A Concise Elementary Grammar of the Sanskrit Language — reliable, still used often, and easy to find at a reasonable price. That must be immediately supplemented with reading, for which Lanman’s reader is still the best, and will give warm feelings to anyone fond of the large classics commentary. It has notes and vocab in it, though in horribly small print.
There’s lots of sensible compounding, so a little attention paid to word formation reduces the burden somewhat.
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